Weekend Happenings: Minneapolis & St. Paul

1st Annual Lowertown Blues Festival
Mears Park
221 E. 5th Street
St. Paul, MN
Sat., July 26, 2014
3:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Cost:  Free



This first annual event was put together by the Minnesota Blues Society and the Lowertown Blues Festival Committee with support from the City of St. Paul. The mission is to bring awareness to St. Paul and St. Paul’s Lowertown redevelopment, and to showcase the awesomeness of Lowertown with music and the arts.  They have a stellar line-up of performers including Shemekia Copeland, Hamilton Loomis, The Lamont Cranston Blues Band and Sena Ehrhardt.

Feel free to bring chairs and coolers but leave the beer and other alcoholic beverages at home. No worries, though. You can purchase beer, wine, ice cream and other food items throughout the festival.

Open Streets Minneapoils:  Northeast

Central Ave. from 18 1/2 to 26 Ave.

Minneapolis, MN

Sun., July 27, 2014

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Cost:  Free

For the past three years, streets in Minneapolis have transformed to allow residents to experience their city in a whole new way — by bike, by skateboard, however they please. We call this Open Streets Mpls, and it has grown from one event in 2011 to four in 2013. In 2014 we are planning six events all across the city!

We see Open Streets Mpls as the perfect chance to promote healthy living, local businesses, sustainable transportation and civic pride in Minneapolis. On multiple days throughout the year, we create miles of safe, car-free streets so that residents of all ages can walk, bike, shop, participate in spontaneous play activities, and get to know one another.

We hope you'll join us this year on a street in your own neighborhood, and enjoy it from a different perspective. Come wander the Open Streets and have some fun! You can even bring your dog.

Throughout the day there will be all sorts of activities for the entire family to enjoy including bike clinics, demos, games, live music and more. And of course, there will be plenty of food as well. Metro Transit is offering free rides to the events (you can load your bike on the front of the bus), and to get your pass, please click here.